Of course, The Empress could technically be a breeder, too…but she doesn’t have an important symbol that the Queen of Pentacles card contains: a bunny.

Because female rabbits bear up to five litters a year, each producing three-six bunnies—and with a gestation period of only four weeks and being able to mate again two weeks after birth—these animals are synonymous with fertility.

While the Empress governs creativity, how she expresses her energy in the every day world manifests in the Queens. The Pentacles suit deals with the material realm—body, health, money, property, food, home, environment and so on—so when coupled with the Queen, we have a character who nurtures, supports and connects in the physical world.

Of all the Queens, the Queen of Pentacles is the most physically productive, whether via childbearing, crafting, cooking, baking or “making things”. Thus, it makes sense that Pamela Colman Smith, under the direction of Arthur E. Waite, drew a bunny in the lower right-hand corner of the Queen of Pentacles card for the Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

Note, however, that quantity doesn’t necessarily mean quality.

It’s the Queen of Swords who swoops in with incisive gaze and flashing exacto knife for precision and quality control.

And quantity doesn’t necessarily mean innovative or charismatic.

You’d have the Queen of Wands prancing in with her colorful caftan (or power suit), adding verve and pizzazz to any project.

Lastly, quantity doesn’t necessarily mean soulful or joyful. How many harried moms do you see in the grocery store toting four or more kids? Nah, you’d need the Queen of Cups to infuse patience and gentleness to the situation.

OK, so we get that bunnies symbolize fertility. And that the Queen of Pentacles is the only Rider-Waite Tarot card featuring the rabbit. You can now view this card, and the other Queens, in a fresh, fertile light.

So how might you apply the above rabbit connections to the Queen of Pentacles card? What could it mean in a reading?

And that’s just the Rider-Waite Tarot!

Hundreds of Tarot decks are on the market, and many of them incorporate the bunny. Look through your decks. How many bunnies do you spot? What cards are they on? What do you think the bunny symbol could mean on those cards in light of what you learned in this post?

Janet Boyer is the author of Back in Time Tarot and Tarot in Reverse, as well as the co-creator (with her husband, artist Ron Boyer) of the Snowland Deck and Coffee Tarot. With her teen son, she created the Boyer Charming Oracle and Animal Totems Charm Oracle. Currently, Janet is working on her third and fourth traditionally-published Tarot books, both forthcoming from Dodona Books—Naked Tarot: Sassy, Stripped Down Advice from the Cards and 365 Tarot: Daily Insights. As a respected, trusted Amazon Hall of Fame/Vine Reviewer, she's penned over 1,200 published reviews that have also been featured in print magazines and other online outlets. In addition to being a Tarot teacher, author, deck creator and professional reader, she is also a frequent radio guest (and former host), essayist, short story writer and homeschooling Mom. Her hobbies include cultivating flowers, tending biota, watching retro TV on DVDs (60s + 70s), trying new recipes (she's an award-winning cook), serving as a Patron of the Arts, photography and reading (especially mysteries/suspense). Visit Janet online at JanetBoyer.com.